EXECUTIVE ORDER
JBE 16-17

Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act

WHEREAS, a strong public education system is essential to the well-being of Louisiana children and communities;WHEREAS, all students deserve equitable access to a quality public education that prepares them for college, career and citizenship;WHEREAS, on December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a bipartisan and bicameral bill to reauthorize the federal education law known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, was signed into law;WHEREAS, the ESSA aspires to give parents, local educators and communities a voice in making decisions affecting education;WHEREAS, theESSA seeks to empower state and local decision-makers to develop and strengthen their own systems for school improvement based upon evidence; WHEREAS, the ESSA reduces testing requirements, allowing more instruction time while still maintaining measures to make sure our children are learning; WHEREAS, theESSA strives to provide every student with high quality educational opportunities, regardless of his or her zip code.NOW THEREFORE, I, JOHN BEL EDWARDS, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:SECTION 1: The Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act (hereafter Council) is hereby established and created within the executive department, Office of the Governor.SECTION 2:The duties of the Council shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

A. Conduct an extensive review of the ESSA; and
B. Make recommendations on specific actions necessary for implementation of the ESSA in Louisiana.

SECTION 3: The Council shall submit to the Governor an initial report on or before December 31, 2016 and a final report on or before March 1, 2017, outlining the requirements and recommendations for implementation of the ESSA in Louisiana.SECTION 4: The Council shall be composed of fifteen (15) at-large members designated by the Governor and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.SECTION 5: The chair of the Council shall be designated by the Governor from the membership of the Council. All other officers, if any, shall be elected by and from the membership of the Council. SECTION 6: Council members shall not receive additional compensation or a per diem from the Office of the Governor for serving on the Council.
Council members who are an employee or an elected public official of the State of Louisiana or a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana may seek reimbursement of travel expenses, in accordance with PPM 49, from their employing and/or elected department, agency and/or office.
Council members who are also a member of the Louisiana Legislature may seek a per diem from the Louisiana State Senate or House of Representatives, as appropriate, for their attendance.SECTION 7: Support staff, facilities and resources for the Council shall be provided by the Office of the Governor.SECTION 8: All departments, commissions, boards, offices, entities, agencies, and officers of the state of Louisiana, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Council in implementing the provisions of this Order.SECTION 9: This Order is effective upon signature and shall continue in effect until May 31, 2017, unless amended, modified, terminated or rescinded by the Governor.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this 26th day of May, 2016.